This is a very easy and comfortable updo, but it tends to slip out of rotation for me since I "need" to do it on freshly washed hair in the morning and then braid it for sleeping in the evening. And 'm lazy when it comes to my hair.
Saturday, 1 February 2020
29 different updos in February challenge: Day 1
First day of the 29 updos in February-challenge and I'm starting with the Chinese
bun since it's weekend and the updo isn't braid based.
This is a very easy and comfortable updo, but it tends to slip out of rotation for me since I "need" to do it on freshly washed hair in the morning and then braid it for sleeping in the evening. And 'm lazy when it comes to my hair.
This is a very easy and comfortable updo, but it tends to slip out of rotation for me since I "need" to do it on freshly washed hair in the morning and then braid it for sleeping in the evening. And 'm lazy when it comes to my hair.
Wednesday, 29 January 2020
29 different updos in February challenge
Last year I saw a challenge for 28 hairstyles for the 28 days of February on a blog, and I thought that was awesome!
I never saw the point in having long hair that you can't do anything with, so this is just the perfect challenge for me. But February this year is a leap year, so... 29 updos!
So I sat down to do some thinking and planning.
Of course I could include braids, but... Nah. Braids are the go to bases for my updos, since they can be prepared the day before and simply twisted/wrapped/coiled up into a real updo in the morning. And then reverted back into a comfortable sleep style by taking the hair tool out again.
It would be more interesting to do 29 structurally different updos.
Some updos are of course not braid-based, but I usually reserve them for weekends where I can be bothered to do them in the morning and braid my hair for sleeping in the evening.
Of course updos and braids can be changed a lot with different strand bases and accents, which doesn't really count. But in a few cases I wasn't entirely sure where the line between two separate updos and just a variation was.
But here are 29 different updos I plan to do:
Hmm, this would also be a good opportunity to work through a lot of my different updo tools. I tend to cycle the same ones over and over...
I never saw the point in having long hair that you can't do anything with, so this is just the perfect challenge for me. But February this year is a leap year, so... 29 updos!
So I sat down to do some thinking and planning.
Of course I could include braids, but... Nah. Braids are the go to bases for my updos, since they can be prepared the day before and simply twisted/wrapped/coiled up into a real updo in the morning. And then reverted back into a comfortable sleep style by taking the hair tool out again.
It would be more interesting to do 29 structurally different updos.
Some updos are of course not braid-based, but I usually reserve them for weekends where I can be bothered to do them in the morning and braid my hair for sleeping in the evening.
Of course updos and braids can be changed a lot with different strand bases and accents, which doesn't really count. But in a few cases I wasn't entirely sure where the line between two separate updos and just a variation was.
But here are 29 different updos I plan to do:
- Braided Chinese bun
- Braided Chinese bun/infinity variation
- Braided cinnamon bun
- Braided headband and Chinese bun combo
- Braided Nautilus bun
- Chinese bun
- Cinnaknot bun
- Crown wrap
- Double braided buns
- Double braided Chinese buns
- Double braided Nautilus buns
- Double figure 8 buns
- Double Nautilus bun
- Ellingwoman/Nautilus hybrid
- Figure 8 bun
- Four small braided cinnamon buns
- Igor's mess
- Infinity bun
- Mega royal bun
- Mickey mouse ears
- Nautilus bun
- Overhand knot bun
- Royal bun
- Sock bun
- Simplified Elling woman bun
- Triple braided buns
- Triple braided buns, stacked
- Wrapunder bun
Hmm, this would also be a good opportunity to work through a lot of my different updo tools. I tend to cycle the same ones over and over...
Sunday, 26 January 2020
Hair and surgery
I received some info about healthy living before the surgery. It surprised me how much of this could have been taken directly from a "How to grow your hair out fast"-type article!
But as it has been pointed out many, many times before: Growing healthy hair isn't quantum mechanics, it's just sticking to the advice about general healthy living that we all already know.
The brochure have some classic advice of limiting alcohol intake and stop smoking if possible. Not smoking will aid in healing because the nicotine restricts blood flow.
It also suggests losing weight if possible, which I actually think I will put some effort into. Not that I think I "need" it, but it will make it a lot easier on my foot after surgery if I could weigh just a little less.
The brochure also has points about the diet you should follow before and after surgery.
Except for the part about that you might be constipated and nauseous post surgery, this is very classic hair advice again: Lots of protein to heal the tissue and paying attention to getting vitamins and minerals for the wound healing and forming new blood cells. It even talks about getting fiber and probiotics to aid your digestive system to take up nutrients efficiently and keep from being constipated. Again, this is advice I have read for growing long hair before!
The foods mentioned that you should avoid are also classic "Avoid these foods if you want to grow long hair"-type entries: Sugary foods and sodium-heavy foods, which can cause damaging fluctuations in the blood sugar levels and cause swelling.
The brochure also advice to get as much exercise as you can before surgery to be in good shape and have good blood flow. After the surgery, it advises to move carefully as much as you can tolerate for your pain level. It will increase blood flow, keep you from getting constipated, and prevent complications like pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis (Sounds nasty). I think I will try to get to our local water park for some gentle exercise as soon as I get out of the cast.
So far the only advice that truly seems to differ from the classic "Grow healthy hair 101" is the point about following instructions and advice given by the healthcare professionals. It also points out that you should go to all the follow-up appointments, even if you otherwise feel okay and don't feel like you need it.
But as it has been pointed out many, many times before: Growing healthy hair isn't quantum mechanics, it's just sticking to the advice about general healthy living that we all already know.
The brochure have some classic advice of limiting alcohol intake and stop smoking if possible. Not smoking will aid in healing because the nicotine restricts blood flow.
It also suggests losing weight if possible, which I actually think I will put some effort into. Not that I think I "need" it, but it will make it a lot easier on my foot after surgery if I could weigh just a little less.
The brochure also has points about the diet you should follow before and after surgery.
Except for the part about that you might be constipated and nauseous post surgery, this is very classic hair advice again: Lots of protein to heal the tissue and paying attention to getting vitamins and minerals for the wound healing and forming new blood cells. It even talks about getting fiber and probiotics to aid your digestive system to take up nutrients efficiently and keep from being constipated. Again, this is advice I have read for growing long hair before!
The foods mentioned that you should avoid are also classic "Avoid these foods if you want to grow long hair"-type entries: Sugary foods and sodium-heavy foods, which can cause damaging fluctuations in the blood sugar levels and cause swelling.
The brochure also advice to get as much exercise as you can before surgery to be in good shape and have good blood flow. After the surgery, it advises to move carefully as much as you can tolerate for your pain level. It will increase blood flow, keep you from getting constipated, and prevent complications like pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis (Sounds nasty). I think I will try to get to our local water park for some gentle exercise as soon as I get out of the cast.
So far the only advice that truly seems to differ from the classic "Grow healthy hair 101" is the point about following instructions and advice given by the healthcare professionals. It also points out that you should go to all the follow-up appointments, even if you otherwise feel okay and don't feel like you need it.
...Well, maybe you could find the last part in a "How to grow your hair out"-article done by a hair stylist. Hah.
Thursday, 23 January 2020
Today's hair
Today's updo is the pinless heart shaped bun aka The Wrapunder bun held with an Elk and iron hair pin for extra stability.
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Saturday, 18 January 2020
Today's hair
The braids are holding up pretty well! Not a lot of fuss to see.
I did the same as I did last time: A single cinnamon bun in the back, then wrapped the two side braids down and around it. Nice, flat and complicated looking bun!
It's held with a Ron Quattro starlite fork.
This updo reminded me of something and I went digging through my hair-folder.
I mean, I know I got the hair inspiration from a Japanese magazine scanlation, but something seemed familiar about it. Finally I found it:
I know the quality isn't the best, but this is what I have. It's from a collection of pictures of Victorian hairstyles. Also it really reminds me of some of the more wearable variations I did on Caroline von Holnsteins hairstyle that I ended up with. But maybe that isn't so surprising since it's from the same time period (ish) of the Victorian era and they probably had a certain desired look that would be copied and made into variations.
Friday, 17 January 2020
Today's hair
Today's hairstyle is three buns made out of five stranded braids held with Ron Quattro pins
Ehh...
Not entirely sure what I think of this. On one hand, it's pretty cool, but on the other hand there is something I dislike and can't put my finger on.
Maybe if I had done four braids so the last bun was high up in the middle and made a sort of rhombe pattern?
Thursday, 16 January 2020
Today's hair
So I felt inspired by my hair inspiration from a while back and basically did the same, just with five stranded braids.
I absolutely love the texture of the five stranded braids!
It's like it gets more of a chain link structure or something?
Monday, 13 January 2020
Ridiculous longhair problem #72, part II
I have complained about headphones versus buns before, and now I will do it again!
But first: A rant
One of the things that really bugs me is when people replace things because they want the newest model in something.
Especially when people replace a functional item with "Ultra green eco friendly eco-eco-eco-green-whatever item" and then argue it's better for the environment. No, you were just tricked into consuming something that you otherwise wouldn't have bought by a unscrupulous company. And you are a slacktivist of the worst kind too.
Consume something when it needs replacement or the next model has a function you want, don't replace something just to have a newer model. Or, buy what you want, when you want, but don't lie to yourself and others about it.
Basically, this:
Mr Igor an I were actually the last people I know of who had an old fashioned fat screen TV. It worked, and we weren't missing any functions, so why should we replace it? Eventually Mr Igor's mother took offense to it and bought us a plasma TV because apparently she couldn't stand the thought that we had such an old fashioned TV. Meh.
Anyways.
I love good headphones. I spend quite a long time during my workdays on public transportation trying to drown out other people's noises and I want good sound on my music. I also can't stand having the headphones resting on my ears, so I want good, noise-cancelling around the ear headphones. My headphones get a lot of use, and a lot of wear and tear from weather and going in and out of backpacks. So I want to spend a good amount of money on quality ones.
But, since everything seems to break the day after the two year warranty goes out, it puts a limit to how much I want to spend. So I usually buy the high, but not very high end models. I like Sennheiser, V Moda and Bang & Olufsen.
But wanting my headphones big enough to not rest on my ears creates a problem with space: Especially braided Chinese buns are a problem, but basically any bun that is nice and flat will have to compete for space on my head.
For some years I have wanted to switch to Bluetooth MP3 players, but since both my wired MP3 player and headphones have worked perfectly, I haven't decided to switch. But then my wired Sennheiser headphones died in the left ear, and left me with two options:
1) Replace the wired Sennheiser with another wired headphone or
2) Replace both the wired MP3 player and wired headphones
Although I dislike replacing the functioning MP3-player (See rant above), I decided to go with option #2.
Since I was trying something new, I fell for an in-ear headset just for the design: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5.
Unfortunately they immediately proved why I prefer the massive around-the-ear models. They just don't fit into my ears and end up slipping out slowly. I ended up bringing them to work where they function as my "Go away, I'm busy"-signal.
And here is a fun and unexpected function of a hair fork: They can be used to anchor earphones in place:
When you leave the connecting wire to the earphones to rest on your shoulders, it seems to create more interference with the fit. "Lifting" it off the shoulders limits the problem.
So, that was a bit of a fail and I went back to look for the big around-the-ear models. The next headphones I got was Bose QuietComfort 35 QC35 II.
This model won a bunch of awards for the sound and felt really comfortable in the store. No contact with my ears and felt very soft.
Since I was in the middle of my little "picky fit", I also fell for the wireless V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition.
I really like V Moda. They are super comfortable and there is something about the designs that I really like. And they have previously proven to be just as tough as they advertise them to be.
If I had a family shield or a cool blogger logo or something, I would get it engraved on the headphone shields!
But how about the space-issue with my buns?
My old V Modas were the same size, and also left me with issues with some updos.
Comparing the Bose QuietComfort 35 QC35 II with my old gold standard, the Sennheiser around-ear model PXC 480:
The Sennheisers are 10,5 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20-25 mm wide.
The Bose are 10 cm long, 8 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20 mm wide.
The Bose model is noticeably rounder, where the Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape.
The wireless V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition looks awesome. Just the box it comes with feels so much more study and interesting than the Bose.
Comparing the V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition with the Sennheiser around-ear model PXC 480:
The Sennheisers are 10,5 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20-25 mm wide.
The V Moda are 9 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20 mm wide.
The V Moda model has the hexagonal shape like all of the models, where the Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape.
Comparing some measurements
Sennheiser: 10,5 cm long earcups
Bose: 10 cm long
V Moda: 9 cm
The length is not really an issue when it comes to having room for my updos, but it is interesting that there is such a difference between the brands.
Sennheiser: 7,5 cm wide earcups
Bose: 8 cm wide
V Moda: 7,5 cm
The Bose model feels noticeably wider than the Sennheiser and V Moda, but I think it's more the difference in shape than the actual measurements? The Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape and the V Moda has the brands hexagonal shape, where the Bose is oval. Without knowing anything about ear anatomy, I think the most logical shape belongs to Sennheiser, since I think most ears are slightly egg shaped and wider near the top? Also kind of interesting that there is so little difference in width of the earcups when there is 1,5 cm difference in the length,
Sennheiser: 2-2,5 cm wide foam earcups
Bose: 2 cm wide
V Moda: 2 cm
I think the Sennheiser being wider is probably more to do with being worn and the cushion getting squished with wear?
Sennheiser: 230 g weight
Bose: 240 g
V Moda: 315 g
It's crazy how much heavier the V Moda feels even though it's just 85 g heavier than the Sennheiser which was the lightest model. But of course this is 37% heavier, so I guess that's the noticeable part?
Also a fun little comparison:
Bang & Olufsen is a Danish company and was founded in 1925, so it's the oldest company of them at a grand old 94 years old.
Sennheiser is a German company and was founded in 1945, so it's 74 years old.
Bose is an American company and was founded in 1964, so it's 55 years old.
V Moda is an American company was founded in 2004, so it's the youngest company of them at just 15 years old.
The V Moda's in action on my way to work. It feels a little like "cheating" because my hair is in two vertically stacked braided buns, which is one of the more narrow updos in my repertoire. But maybe this proves my point since this is such a narrow updo and it still doesn't leave a whole lot of space.
But first: A rant
One of the things that really bugs me is when people replace things because they want the newest model in something.
Especially when people replace a functional item with "Ultra green eco friendly eco-eco-eco-green-whatever item" and then argue it's better for the environment. No, you were just tricked into consuming something that you otherwise wouldn't have bought by a unscrupulous company. And you are a slacktivist of the worst kind too.
Consume something when it needs replacement or the next model has a function you want, don't replace something just to have a newer model. Or, buy what you want, when you want, but don't lie to yourself and others about it.
Basically, this:
Mr Igor an I were actually the last people I know of who had an old fashioned fat screen TV. It worked, and we weren't missing any functions, so why should we replace it? Eventually Mr Igor's mother took offense to it and bought us a plasma TV because apparently she couldn't stand the thought that we had such an old fashioned TV. Meh.
Anyways.
I love good headphones. I spend quite a long time during my workdays on public transportation trying to drown out other people's noises and I want good sound on my music. I also can't stand having the headphones resting on my ears, so I want good, noise-cancelling around the ear headphones. My headphones get a lot of use, and a lot of wear and tear from weather and going in and out of backpacks. So I want to spend a good amount of money on quality ones.
But, since everything seems to break the day after the two year warranty goes out, it puts a limit to how much I want to spend. So I usually buy the high, but not very high end models. I like Sennheiser, V Moda and Bang & Olufsen.
But wanting my headphones big enough to not rest on my ears creates a problem with space: Especially braided Chinese buns are a problem, but basically any bun that is nice and flat will have to compete for space on my head.
For some years I have wanted to switch to Bluetooth MP3 players, but since both my wired MP3 player and headphones have worked perfectly, I haven't decided to switch. But then my wired Sennheiser headphones died in the left ear, and left me with two options:
1) Replace the wired Sennheiser with another wired headphone or
2) Replace both the wired MP3 player and wired headphones
Although I dislike replacing the functioning MP3-player (See rant above), I decided to go with option #2.
Since I was trying something new, I fell for an in-ear headset just for the design: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5.
Unfortunately they immediately proved why I prefer the massive around-the-ear models. They just don't fit into my ears and end up slipping out slowly. I ended up bringing them to work where they function as my "Go away, I'm busy"-signal.
And here is a fun and unexpected function of a hair fork: They can be used to anchor earphones in place:
When you leave the connecting wire to the earphones to rest on your shoulders, it seems to create more interference with the fit. "Lifting" it off the shoulders limits the problem.
So, that was a bit of a fail and I went back to look for the big around-the-ear models. The next headphones I got was Bose QuietComfort 35 QC35 II.
This model won a bunch of awards for the sound and felt really comfortable in the store. No contact with my ears and felt very soft.
Since I was in the middle of my little "picky fit", I also fell for the wireless V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition.
I really like V Moda. They are super comfortable and there is something about the designs that I really like. And they have previously proven to be just as tough as they advertise them to be.
If I had a family shield or a cool blogger logo or something, I would get it engraved on the headphone shields!
But how about the space-issue with my buns?
My old V Modas were the same size, and also left me with issues with some updos.
Comparing the Bose QuietComfort 35 QC35 II with my old gold standard, the Sennheiser around-ear model PXC 480:
The Sennheisers are 10,5 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20-25 mm wide.
The Bose are 10 cm long, 8 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20 mm wide.
The Bose model is noticeably rounder, where the Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape.
The wireless V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition looks awesome. Just the box it comes with feels so much more study and interesting than the Bose.
Comparing the V Moda Crossfade II Codex Edition with the Sennheiser around-ear model PXC 480:
The Sennheisers are 10,5 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20-25 mm wide.
The V Moda are 9 cm long, 7,5 cm wide at the widest and the earcup cushion is around 20 mm wide.
The V Moda model has the hexagonal shape like all of the models, where the Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape.
Comparing some measurements
Sennheiser: 10,5 cm long earcups
Bose: 10 cm long
V Moda: 9 cm
The length is not really an issue when it comes to having room for my updos, but it is interesting that there is such a difference between the brands.
Sennheiser: 7,5 cm wide earcups
Bose: 8 cm wide
V Moda: 7,5 cm
The Bose model feels noticeably wider than the Sennheiser and V Moda, but I think it's more the difference in shape than the actual measurements? The Sennheiser has an almost triangular shape and the V Moda has the brands hexagonal shape, where the Bose is oval. Without knowing anything about ear anatomy, I think the most logical shape belongs to Sennheiser, since I think most ears are slightly egg shaped and wider near the top? Also kind of interesting that there is so little difference in width of the earcups when there is 1,5 cm difference in the length,
Sennheiser: 2-2,5 cm wide foam earcups
Bose: 2 cm wide
V Moda: 2 cm
I think the Sennheiser being wider is probably more to do with being worn and the cushion getting squished with wear?
Sennheiser: 230 g weight
Bose: 240 g
V Moda: 315 g
It's crazy how much heavier the V Moda feels even though it's just 85 g heavier than the Sennheiser which was the lightest model. But of course this is 37% heavier, so I guess that's the noticeable part?
Also a fun little comparison:
Bang & Olufsen is a Danish company and was founded in 1925, so it's the oldest company of them at a grand old 94 years old.
Sennheiser is a German company and was founded in 1945, so it's 74 years old.
Bose is an American company and was founded in 1964, so it's 55 years old.
V Moda is an American company was founded in 2004, so it's the youngest company of them at just 15 years old.
The V Moda's in action on my way to work. It feels a little like "cheating" because my hair is in two vertically stacked braided buns, which is one of the more narrow updos in my repertoire. But maybe this proves my point since this is such a narrow updo and it still doesn't leave a whole lot of space.
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